The Moving picture world (January 1926-February 1926)

IN MISSISSIPPI THEY DO IT THIS WAY! A very girlish "girl show" blows in, and they draw up a censorship law — including *'movies" I MOVING PICTURE WORLD OUR OWN WEATHER REPORT A blizzard hit New York City February 3-4. The folks went to the shows — just as though nothing had happened. VOL. 78 NEW YORK, N. Y., FEBRUARY 13, 1926 No. 7 Rembusch Issues Spectacular Conference Call John P. Harris, Pioneer, Dead In Pittsburgh Member of State Senate Expires Suddenly (Special Dispatch to Moving Picture World) Pittsburgh, Pa., January 30. State Senator John P. Harris, who died suddenly of apoplexy in the Legislature Chamber, Harrisburg-, Tuesday afternoon, January 26, was the first picture exhibitor in Pittsburgh, having opened the first "nickelodeon" in Smithfield street. Mr. Harris was among the first to enter the field of lowpriced vaudeville. He provided Pittsburgli and Western Pennsylvania with a chain of theatres, featured with low admission prices. Later he entered the higher priced amusement {Continued on page 3) Henry M. Hobart Forms Company Albany, February 1. The H'enry M. Hobart Productions were incorporated here, the capitalization not being specified. Directors of record are M. L. Lesser, Mr. Hobart and Sally Budd, all of New York City. As Vice-President of Distinctive Pictures, Inc., 366 Madison avenue. New Y'ork, Mr. Hobart produced "Disraeli," "The Ruling Passion," "Man Who Played God'' and 'The Green Goddess," starring George Arliss, among other Arliss pictures. The motion picture business in New York State took on a decided impetus during the past week in the number of companies incorporating. Thirteen companies received charters, the largest number formed in a week for the past several months. These companies wei-e: Brandon Brothers, Inc., capitalized at $20,000, with Walter Lee Brandon, Fred G. Miller, Stella Berthov, of New York City; Whitfields Productions. Inc., $10,000, Meyer, Charles and Aaron Kurz, New York; Rosereb Amusement (ConttHutd on pae* 3) Queen of Roumania Will Write Stories for M-Q-M Queen Marie of Roumania, most famous of European Queens since the time of Victoria of England, has turned motion picture author. Louis B. Mayer, vice-president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, announced yesterday that the celebrated royal author, noted as one of the world's beauties and one of the most brilliant feminine minds of Europe, is to write an original story for screen production by M.-G.-M. and has also signed contracts by which all her previously written novels, stories and plays are to be available for production by that organization. The arrangement is considered one of the most romantic as well as one of the most Important in the history of the screen. Queen Marie is to write an original play for immediate production by Metro-GoldwynMayer and the contract gives them an exclusive option on any additional story material by her. Queen Marie has for years been famous as a writer and as a leader in feminine thought. She is a granddaughter of Queen Victoria of England and daughter of the Duke of Brunswick. Her mother was a daughter of Czar Alexander II of Russia. She is the mother of Prince Carol who recently attracted international notice through renunciation of his rights to the throne. Title and details of Queen Marie's first photoplay will be announced soon, Mr. Mayer said. Rumors Follow Newman s Visit (Special Dispatch to Moving Picture WorldI Kansas City, January 30. Kansas City newspaper reporters kept Frank L. Newman, manager of three Los Angeles Paramount theatres, busy this week, affirming and denying various reports and rumors. Mr. Newman, former owner of the Newman and Royal theatres, Kansas City, had returned to his home town to resume management of the houses — Newman and Royal — which he leased to Paramount last summer, a rumor had it. However, upon arriving Mr. Newman denied there were plans under consideration for him to again control the Kansas City theatres. Then came the report that Jack Partington, widely known San Francisco exhibitor would succeed Mr. Newman in L<js Angeles. When asked if he would join forces with any other theatre, Mr. Newman's reply was that "anything might happen." A letter to Kansas City from Louis Forbstein, former director of the Newman orchestra, but now on the West Coast with Mr. Newman, states that Mr. Forbestein has accepted a position with Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood at a salary of $325 a week. Kansas Invites All Managers (Special Dispatch to Moving Picture World) Kansas City, January 30. Eligibility h) managers of producer-owned theatres to member.^hip in the M. P. T. O. Kansas-Missouri was one important development of the recent meeting of the board of directors of the M. P. T. O. K-M in Kansas City. The date of the next convention, which probably will be in Topeka. Kas., or Wichita, Kas., in April, was left to a committee composed of A. F. Baker, Electric Theatre. Kansas City. Kas.; Jay Means. Murray and Prospect theatres, Kansas City, Mo.; R. R. Biechele, Osage Theatre. Kansas City, Kas., and C. E. Cook, business manager of the exhibitor organization. .\s to voting power, producermanagers will be on the same basis as all members, virtually the only exception being that no producer-owned manager will be eligible to hold office. The arbitration board stand is the outgrowth of long agitation. John Corcoran, Midway Theatre, Kansas City, Kas.; Frank Amos, Westport Theatre, Kansas City, Mo., and L. J. Lenhart, Roanoke Theatre, Kansas City, Mo., exhibitor members, will continue to sit in hearing cases of non-memh<>"«. but that Is all. Theatre Owners Will Go To French Lick on New Contract No Other Subject to Be Considered (Specuil Dispatch to Moving Picture World) Indianapolis, January 31. Frank J. Rembusch. president of the Indiana Theatre Owners, today wired invitations to all exhibitors and exhibitor organizations in the United States and Canada to attend a conference at the French Lick Springs Hotel, French Lick, Ind., on Wednesday and Thursday, February 24 and 25, to decide upon a uniform contract. Mr. Rerabn-sch waives all factional "fights" aside; points out yiat the new buying season opens within three months; asks all groups and factions to "forget it." and attend the conference for the purpose of getting together On a new contract, voiding the old one. Leading members of the Motion picture Theatre Owners of .America, in New York City, in(Continued on page 4) Appointments by Publix Theatres M'.. J. Mullin has been appointed Supervisor of Maintenance of Publix Theatres Corporation, with headquarters in New York. His department will liandle all of the supplies, equipmont. advertising accessories, eic, used in the maintenance of the theatres of the corporation throughout the country. Plans for the department involve the establishing of warehouses at convenient points throughout the country, such as are now maintained in .\tlanta and Dallas. Mr. Mullin has been in Atlanta for the past seven years, the last three of which he has been in charge of the warehouse of th theatre division of P'amous PIayers-l>asky Cori)oration. Previouslv he acted in the same capacity" for S. A. Lynch Enterprises, Inc. l>ublix also has engaged the services of Earl P. -Sanders to represent them as booker of acts playing some of the Publix theatres. Mr. Sanders has had fifteen years experience in this line of work, having been associated with the Orpheum Circuit and with the William Morris Agency for many years. His oflftce will be at 1520 Broadway.